Former football champs top polls

The usual suspects dominated the voting in the Associated Press preseason polls for Georgia high school football, which were released Monday.

Of the six defending champions - Hawkinsville and Clinch County shared the Class A title in 2004 - four are top-ranked in their class; the other two are second-ranked.

Locally, Washington County is the highest-ranked team in its class, taking second behind LaGrange in Class AAA. It's the same order as the end of 2004, when the Grangers defeated the Golden Hawks, 17-6, in the state final.

Also in Class AAA, Thomson is ranked No. 8, while Region 3-AAA foes Glenn Hills and Burke County also received votes.

Laney is ranked fourth in Class AA. Charlton County is second behind perennial power Buford.

In Class A, Lincoln County, coming off its sixth trip to the Georgia Dome and the state semifinals, leads local teams at No. 3.

In Class AAAAA and Class AAAA, defending champions Lowndes and Warner Robins were unanimous No. 1 selections.